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Snape
From the Introduction: "The Harry Potter series may be named after the Boy Who Lived, but if you want to know the story, keep your eyes fixed on Snape. This hook-nosed, greasy-haired, grumpy character is one of J.K. Rowling’s enduring gifts to English literature. He’s the archetypal ill-tempered teacher: acerbic, yet horribly, deliciously funny. Every time he opens his mouth, he delivers. When he’s in a scene, you can’t take your eyes off him. Snape is always the story."
In this examination of J.K. Rowling's most enigmatic character, Lorrie Kim shows us how to sort through the illusions and lies to the man who dared to spy on Voldemort, and without whom Harry's story would have turned out very differently. In his final moments, he asks Harry (and the reader) to "look at me." This book does just that.
In this examination of J.K. Rowling's most enigmatic character, Lorrie Kim shows us how to sort through the illusions and lies to the man who dared to spy on Voldemort, and without whom Harry's story would have turned out very differently. In his final moments, he asks Harry (and the reader) to "look at me." This book does just that.
Paperback
First published July 4, 2016
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About the author
Lorrie Kim
4 books106 followersLorrie Kim lives in Philadelphia, PA with her clever, grumpy, magical spouse and their Harry Potter-reading offspring, one born between Order of the Phoenix and Half-Blood Prince and one in gestation during the publication of Deathly Hallows. She co-hosts Harry Potter After 2020 with Lorrie Kim and JC, a chapter re-read podcast, at hpafter2020.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 415 reviews
July 8, 2016
I was lucky enough to get my hands on an advance copy of this and devoured it :) The author does a truly excellent job not only analyzing in detail how Severus Snape evolves throughout the series, but also demonstrating how his interactions with the other characters -- Harry, of course, and Dumbledore, but also Hermione, Neville, his Hogwarts colleagues, Narcissa and Bellatrix, and others -- hint at something much deeper and different than appears on the surface. Reading this book gave me a much broader and deeper appreciation both of Snape himself and of Rowling's skills as a writer in creating such a complex, multi-dimensional character, and revealing him in such subtle ways. Highly recommended.
December 28, 2016
This is the book I never knew I was longing for. It's the first time I've ever read a companion book to the Harry Potter series and not thought NEEDS MORE SNAPE. Because every page of this is Severus Snape, Potions Master, Head of Slytherin, Headmaster, Spy.
Kim sets out to deliver a critical reading of the body of the HP text with the thesis: Keep your eye on Snape. Snape is where the story is. And she delivers. Working book by book, asking four questions about Snape and his relationships to the main characters, especially Harry, she charts a complete story from the first, simplest volume, to the final moments when the green eyes found the black. Rowling uses over a million words and at times, obscures her meaning with such finesse, that to find Snape's inherent goodness in his surliness, snarkiness, ingratitude and violence is almost impossible. But Kim reads the edges of the books, where Rowling's very, very complete universe starts to work on its own and imagining Snape applying the same motivation to protect and save Harry to his cadre of misunderstood and maligned Slytherins, is simply a matter of course.
Kim also spends the course of her work detailing how Snape is the most effect Defense Against the Dark Arts professor any of the students have in any given year-- even when Barty Crouch Jr. is disguised as Mad Eye Moody. All the way back to drilling them in spells like Expelliarmus! up to the many and varied importances of wandless magic (Kim points out that Harry states none of them and each of Snape's illustrations is brought to bear on the tower the night Dumbledore is murdered).
In the end, the book is a vindication of the great character of tremendous love and sacrifice that is Severus Snape. For those who already love him, like me, this is one, long, beautiful pat on the back. For those that cannot get past his petty sneering, this should be an eye-opening reveal into an absolutely magnificent character obscured by an unreliable narrator.
Kim sets out to deliver a critical reading of the body of the HP text with the thesis: Keep your eye on Snape. Snape is where the story is. And she delivers. Working book by book, asking four questions about Snape and his relationships to the main characters, especially Harry, she charts a complete story from the first, simplest volume, to the final moments when the green eyes found the black. Rowling uses over a million words and at times, obscures her meaning with such finesse, that to find Snape's inherent goodness in his surliness, snarkiness, ingratitude and violence is almost impossible. But Kim reads the edges of the books, where Rowling's very, very complete universe starts to work on its own and imagining Snape applying the same motivation to protect and save Harry to his cadre of misunderstood and maligned Slytherins, is simply a matter of course.
Kim also spends the course of her work detailing how Snape is the most effect Defense Against the Dark Arts professor any of the students have in any given year-- even when Barty Crouch Jr. is disguised as Mad Eye Moody. All the way back to drilling them in spells like Expelliarmus! up to the many and varied importances of wandless magic (Kim points out that Harry states none of them and each of Snape's illustrations is brought to bear on the tower the night Dumbledore is murdered).
In the end, the book is a vindication of the great character of tremendous love and sacrifice that is Severus Snape. For those who already love him, like me, this is one, long, beautiful pat on the back. For those that cannot get past his petty sneering, this should be an eye-opening reveal into an absolutely magnificent character obscured by an unreliable narrator.
June 30, 2025
The perfect book for all those Slytherins out there.
November 28, 2018
Well done Lorrie Kim! A five star book for me is one that moves me, and draws me to take some action. Because of this book, Snape has moved from lowest on my HP love totem pole to the near top (in case you are wondering — Hermione, Harry, Mrs. Weasley, McGonogal then Snape). Because of this book I will reread the series with a keen perspective on Snape, his feelings, words, and actions.
January 11, 2023
3.5 stars, but I’ll round up to 4! Overall this was such a good book. There were times where I completely disagreed with points the author made because her opinions left me feeling very weird and uncomfortable. She focused quite a bit sometimes on Snape’s physical appearance which made extremely deep situations seem very superficial. This is all just a matter of differing view points to the character. This book did give me deeper insight into Snape and he will always be my favorite HP character. Definitely worth a read if you adore Snape!
June 22, 2017
This book is a thorough dissection of the Harry Potter books with a focus on Severus Snape, one of the all-time best, most complicated and polarizing characters of modern literature.
Each chapter focuses on one of the seven books in the series. They begin with a detailed account of the book's plot and includes long quotes of the original text. As someone who has read the series four times, I felt that the rehash of each book went into too much depth and I ended up skimming much of it. As a Potterhead I knew all this! And, while some may say the plot summary is for HP newbie fans, I honestly think that this book will only be bought by the die-hard fans of Harry Potter.
While there were some good points made, many of the insights would be fairly obvious to a Potter fan. But the points that were based on pure speculation by the author, that weren't supported in Rowling's text, made me cringe a bit. She made too big of a leap in quite a few of her points. I had assumed I'd devour this book but admit to picking away at it for weeks.
Don't get me wrong, Kim makes some great points and I appreciate the amount of research that went into this book. And while I didn't agree with all of the author's points it is always nice to slip into the Potterverse again.
Snape is a complex character who forced me to run the gamut of emotions during the seven HP books. He's complicated, heartbreaking, mysterious, devoted, hateful and obsessive. I liked how the author shows the conflicted nature of Snape and how his past formed who he became. Reading this book has reminded me that it's time to pull out my Potter set and re-read it this summer.
Each chapter focuses on one of the seven books in the series. They begin with a detailed account of the book's plot and includes long quotes of the original text. As someone who has read the series four times, I felt that the rehash of each book went into too much depth and I ended up skimming much of it. As a Potterhead I knew all this! And, while some may say the plot summary is for HP newbie fans, I honestly think that this book will only be bought by the die-hard fans of Harry Potter.
While there were some good points made, many of the insights would be fairly obvious to a Potter fan. But the points that were based on pure speculation by the author, that weren't supported in Rowling's text, made me cringe a bit. She made too big of a leap in quite a few of her points. I had assumed I'd devour this book but admit to picking away at it for weeks.
Don't get me wrong, Kim makes some great points and I appreciate the amount of research that went into this book. And while I didn't agree with all of the author's points it is always nice to slip into the Potterverse again.
Snape is a complex character who forced me to run the gamut of emotions during the seven HP books. He's complicated, heartbreaking, mysterious, devoted, hateful and obsessive. I liked how the author shows the conflicted nature of Snape and how his past formed who he became. Reading this book has reminded me that it's time to pull out my Potter set and re-read it this summer.
March 28, 2017
Way too introspective. Seeing things that I'm sure were never intended. Rolled my eyes more than I could count and only made it 1/3 through.
May 10, 2021
4.5 stars
Severus Snape is and always have been my favorite character from the Harry Potter series. I also think he is one of the best written fictional characters ever. So, I was really happy when I discovered this book about him!
Lorrie Kim does a great job writing and putting out her opinions. You can clearly see that she has done a lot of research for her book. Snape: A Definitive Reading opens up really intresting discussions regarding Snape, but also other characters including James, Lily, Dumbledore and Hermione. If you for some reason want to have a debate or a discussion about Snape, Lorrie Kim's book is a good one to have as a base to go from.
However, even though I like the book. There are still a lot of things I strongly disagree with when it comes to it. English is not my native language, so might also have missunderstood things. But this is how I interpret her text:
Lorrie Kim's writing makes me feel that she is saying that Snape is the unsung hero of the story. In my opinion, she gives him too much credit and even justifice his bullying throught the books.
The thing is (and what I love about him); Snape is through and through morally grey! You can't make him a hero, but you can't make him a bad guy either. He had an unhealthy obsession towards a woman that has been dead for years! However, that obsession also gave him a goal and that goal helped save the wizarding world! It feels like a lot of people are lashes onto one of these two things:
1) He was abused as a child. He was the victim and got bullied. With that people might excuse his behaviour.
2) He was an abuser and bullied his students. There for his childhood experiences and trauma is shoved under the rugs.
In my opinion, both should take into account. Because there is so many layers to him. Without a doubt he has had terrible things in his past. However, this is not an excuse! Neville's boggart, his biggest fear is his teacher!
On the other hand, he also has been in a terrible position and been abused and bullied and looked down upon. You can't ignore that as well!
With this review, it might sound like I'm not a big fan of Snape. However, that's not true. I like reading and understanding the layers of him. That's what makes him an intresting character to read about over and over again!.
My personal favorite thing someone ever has said about Snape is when Meraphy Napier said in her video about Snape:
"Protecting the physical state of Lily's son while harming the mental state of James's son. He never viewed Harry as his own person. He only viewed him through the lens of his love for Lily or his hatred for James."
In my opinion, that describes Snape as a character very well!
In the end, I'm not giving Lorrie Kim's book 4.5 stars because I disagree with her! No, her book is amazing and there are also a lot of things I agreee with her on. The only thing I'm slightly nitpicking on is that she could have used some other sources then just the seven books. A few interviews interviewing JK. Rowling about Snape would have added more depth to her statements.
Severus Snape is and always have been my favorite character from the Harry Potter series. I also think he is one of the best written fictional characters ever. So, I was really happy when I discovered this book about him!
Lorrie Kim does a great job writing and putting out her opinions. You can clearly see that she has done a lot of research for her book. Snape: A Definitive Reading opens up really intresting discussions regarding Snape, but also other characters including James, Lily, Dumbledore and Hermione. If you for some reason want to have a debate or a discussion about Snape, Lorrie Kim's book is a good one to have as a base to go from.
However, even though I like the book. There are still a lot of things I strongly disagree with when it comes to it. English is not my native language, so might also have missunderstood things. But this is how I interpret her text:
Lorrie Kim's writing makes me feel that she is saying that Snape is the unsung hero of the story. In my opinion, she gives him too much credit and even justifice his bullying throught the books.
The thing is (and what I love about him); Snape is through and through morally grey! You can't make him a hero, but you can't make him a bad guy either. He had an unhealthy obsession towards a woman that has been dead for years! However, that obsession also gave him a goal and that goal helped save the wizarding world! It feels like a lot of people are lashes onto one of these two things:
1) He was abused as a child. He was the victim and got bullied. With that people might excuse his behaviour.
2) He was an abuser and bullied his students. There for his childhood experiences and trauma is shoved under the rugs.
In my opinion, both should take into account. Because there is so many layers to him. Without a doubt he has had terrible things in his past. However, this is not an excuse! Neville's boggart, his biggest fear is his teacher!
On the other hand, he also has been in a terrible position and been abused and bullied and looked down upon. You can't ignore that as well!
With this review, it might sound like I'm not a big fan of Snape. However, that's not true. I like reading and understanding the layers of him. That's what makes him an intresting character to read about over and over again!.
My personal favorite thing someone ever has said about Snape is when Meraphy Napier said in her video about Snape:
"Protecting the physical state of Lily's son while harming the mental state of James's son. He never viewed Harry as his own person. He only viewed him through the lens of his love for Lily or his hatred for James."
In my opinion, that describes Snape as a character very well!
In the end, I'm not giving Lorrie Kim's book 4.5 stars because I disagree with her! No, her book is amazing and there are also a lot of things I agreee with her on. The only thing I'm slightly nitpicking on is that she could have used some other sources then just the seven books. A few interviews interviewing JK. Rowling about Snape would have added more depth to her statements.
December 31, 2020
"there was more to him than met the eye" -Alan Rickman
"No longer does the story show Snape as an ugly man. The usual gratuitous descriptors of his ugliness—the mentions of the hooked nose and the greasy hair during standard exposition—are now gone from the narrative. Rowling writes him with stark realism when he is being brave: when he pulls up his sleeve to show his Dark Mark, when he sings shut Draco’s wounds, when his eyes sweep the scene and he kills his mentor. He is heroic then, harshly beautiful as he does magic that no one else can do. -Lorrie Kim
This book is such a masterpiece...
I'll never stop saying it.
The author did such a great job breaking down one of the most complex and amazing characters out there that I honestly want to cry everytime I finish it.
It doesn't help that I keep Alan in my mind every single time I read it... 🖤
"No longer does the story show Snape as an ugly man. The usual gratuitous descriptors of his ugliness—the mentions of the hooked nose and the greasy hair during standard exposition—are now gone from the narrative. Rowling writes him with stark realism when he is being brave: when he pulls up his sleeve to show his Dark Mark, when he sings shut Draco’s wounds, when his eyes sweep the scene and he kills his mentor. He is heroic then, harshly beautiful as he does magic that no one else can do. -Lorrie Kim
This book is such a masterpiece...
I'll never stop saying it.
The author did such a great job breaking down one of the most complex and amazing characters out there that I honestly want to cry everytime I finish it.
It doesn't help that I keep Alan in my mind every single time I read it... 🖤
September 5, 2016
A goldmine for HP fans. I've enjoyed long debates about the "goodness" of Snape, taking his defense even following the conclusion of Book 6. This careful reading of the series from Snape's POV is revealing, moving, and simultaneously strengthens both the ambiguity of his character and the depth of his devotion and sacrifice for the cause. A remarkable analysis.
"Snape is the story." It is through his eyes we learn best about the deepest magic of protective love. For several books, Snape hates Harry, in part, because he reminds him of Harry's father. Harry longs to know what his father was like in order to emulate him. What both Snape and Harry come to realize is how closely Harry takes after his mother instead. Harry comes to see Snape through his mother's eyes, and while gazing into those similar green eyes, Snape leaves this life having finally been seen for who/se he really is.
"Snape is the story." It is through his eyes we learn best about the deepest magic of protective love. For several books, Snape hates Harry, in part, because he reminds him of Harry's father. Harry longs to know what his father was like in order to emulate him. What both Snape and Harry come to realize is how closely Harry takes after his mother instead. Harry comes to see Snape through his mother's eyes, and while gazing into those similar green eyes, Snape leaves this life having finally been seen for who/se he really is.
August 29, 2016
I'm no stranger to Lorrie's well-written, eye-opening analyses - reading some of her Potter essays has opened my eyes to patterns and themes in the books that I would never have been able to put into words myself. She's a veritable genius in exposing the unsaid. And the unsaid is exactly where Severus Snape lives: as the book posits, Snape is always the story, but he is the undercover story, the submerged story. He is the hidden story, multi-interpretable, deeply confusing at times, completely opaque in his motivations. Knowing Lorrie's strength in exposing the hidden, I bought her book on Snape with full enthusiasm, even though Snape is a character that I am not personally very drawn to. (I read him as a fellow teacher, and I find it immensely hard to forgive his abominable teaching practice.)
The reason I gave the book five stars, rather than the four I would already have given it for its singing prose and razor-sharp insight, is that it genuinely gave me a new perspective on the HP series, and that is no mean feat considering I have been re-reading the series regularly for almost fifteen years. Lorrie's analyses hold up well, drawing on well-developed deductive reasoning about how Snape functions: if he did action a in situation x, it stands to reason he did action a in another similar situation, too. This is how, even when the text does not offer much support, Lorrie is able to interpret all of Snape's ostensibly contradictory action and bring it together into a cohesive reading.
The subtlety of Snape's actions, his long-term strategy, his relationships to all those around him, the depth of his sacrifices - it all finally comes to the surface in this reading, without at any time denying or excusing the fact that he sometimes perpetrates terrible bigotry and cruelty on his students. I think Lorrie is right when she posits that Snape, at his core, is someone who craves to be seen for his true self, and that the fact that this was denied to him during his life was very hard to bear at times. Somehow it touched me deeply that in Lorrie's book, he finally gets what he needed: someone to really see him. He was seen by Lily as a child, but lived a life tormented by guilt over his responsibility in her death; he was seen by Dumbledore, who he had to kill; finally at the end of his life he was seen by Harry, and Harry named his son after him (in a much-reviled move, sadly). He died knowing that Harry would know his story. And now so do we, thanks to Lorrie.
I will never love Snape. But I understand him a lot better after finishing this book, and that, in the case of Severus Snape, is probably far more valuable than loving him.
The reason I gave the book five stars, rather than the four I would already have given it for its singing prose and razor-sharp insight, is that it genuinely gave me a new perspective on the HP series, and that is no mean feat considering I have been re-reading the series regularly for almost fifteen years. Lorrie's analyses hold up well, drawing on well-developed deductive reasoning about how Snape functions: if he did action a in situation x, it stands to reason he did action a in another similar situation, too. This is how, even when the text does not offer much support, Lorrie is able to interpret all of Snape's ostensibly contradictory action and bring it together into a cohesive reading.
The subtlety of Snape's actions, his long-term strategy, his relationships to all those around him, the depth of his sacrifices - it all finally comes to the surface in this reading, without at any time denying or excusing the fact that he sometimes perpetrates terrible bigotry and cruelty on his students. I think Lorrie is right when she posits that Snape, at his core, is someone who craves to be seen for his true self, and that the fact that this was denied to him during his life was very hard to bear at times. Somehow it touched me deeply that in Lorrie's book, he finally gets what he needed: someone to really see him. He was seen by Lily as a child, but lived a life tormented by guilt over his responsibility in her death; he was seen by Dumbledore, who he had to kill; finally at the end of his life he was seen by Harry, and Harry named his son after him (in a much-reviled move, sadly). He died knowing that Harry would know his story. And now so do we, thanks to Lorrie.
I will never love Snape. But I understand him a lot better after finishing this book, and that, in the case of Severus Snape, is probably far more valuable than loving him.
December 17, 2024
-2020-
"there was more to him than met the eye" -Alan Rickman
"No longer does the story show Snape as an ugly man. The usual gratuitous descriptors of his ugliness—the mentions of the hooked nose and the greasy hair during standard exposition—are now gone from the narrative. Rowling writes him with stark realism when he is being brave: when he pulls up his sleeve to show his Dark Mark, when he sings shut Draco’s wounds, when his eyes sweep the scene and he kills his mentor. He is heroic then, harshly beautiful as he does magic that no one else can do. -Lorrie Kim
This book is such a masterpiece...
I'll never stop saying it.
The author did such a great job breaking down one of the most complex and amazing characters out there that I honestly want to cry everytime I finish it.
It doesn't help that I keep Alan in my mind every single time I read it... 🖤
-2023-
"Snape is a shadowy, difficult figure in the Harry Potter story, but understanding his character is crucial. The story would not have been possible without him."
SEVERUS SNAPE TRULY IS MAGNIFICENT 😭🖤
2024
Lily knew and loved Snape before his eyes turned dark and cold and Occluded. Lily saw his true self; she knew how to read the person who became this inscrutable man.
He can say 'look at me' because he finally meets the standard he set for himself: if he were to see Lily Potter now, he would at last be able to meet her gaze without shame.
😭❤️🩹
Severus Snape you are EVERYTHING to me 🖤
"there was more to him than met the eye" -Alan Rickman
"No longer does the story show Snape as an ugly man. The usual gratuitous descriptors of his ugliness—the mentions of the hooked nose and the greasy hair during standard exposition—are now gone from the narrative. Rowling writes him with stark realism when he is being brave: when he pulls up his sleeve to show his Dark Mark, when he sings shut Draco’s wounds, when his eyes sweep the scene and he kills his mentor. He is heroic then, harshly beautiful as he does magic that no one else can do. -Lorrie Kim
This book is such a masterpiece...
I'll never stop saying it.
The author did such a great job breaking down one of the most complex and amazing characters out there that I honestly want to cry everytime I finish it.
It doesn't help that I keep Alan in my mind every single time I read it... 🖤
-2023-
"Snape is a shadowy, difficult figure in the Harry Potter story, but understanding his character is crucial. The story would not have been possible without him."
SEVERUS SNAPE TRULY IS MAGNIFICENT 😭🖤
2024
Lily knew and loved Snape before his eyes turned dark and cold and Occluded. Lily saw his true self; she knew how to read the person who became this inscrutable man.
He can say 'look at me' because he finally meets the standard he set for himself: if he were to see Lily Potter now, he would at last be able to meet her gaze without shame.
😭❤️🩹
Severus Snape you are EVERYTHING to me 🖤
July 14, 2024
July 2024. Didn't finish.
People are giving this book 4 or 5 stars, and I'm questioning if we read the same book.
I read Irvin Khaytman's Dumbledore before this book. I loved how Irvin had that book set up and I had expected this one to be very similar. Irvin referenced this book (Snape) a few times, and it made me very excited to read it. Looks like Irvin set the bar high and Kim couldn't reach it.
Just in the first chapter, I almost fell asleep twice out of boredom. The second chapter couldn't end sooner. Then comes the third chapter.
Everyone knows the scene of Neville's boggart, Snape, being transformed into wearing Neville's grandmother's clothes. Apparently this was transphobic.
"Lupin instigates mockery of Snape using an image with sexist, cissexist, and ageist implications that the students might not have come up with on their own." "The enormous hilarity, "all goes well" and the boggart gives the assembled class the opportunity to mock the image of Snape dressed in lady's clothes." Kim then processed to say that this helps Neville gain confidence, "but it comes at a price. Lupin has legitimized transphobia, a form of hatred."
This whole scene is Lupin helping his students overcome their fears by making light of them. Growing up, if you had a fear of public speaking, you were always told to "pretend everyone is in their underwear." This is literally no different. This book came out in 1999 and was targeted for kids. Get a grip. This was never Rowling's intentions and to assume or even reach for this is just ludicrous.
Progress notes:
Page 16: I'm bored
Page 29: Twice now, as I've tried reading this book, I've had to fight sleep.
Page 38: I read Irvin Khaytman's "Dumbledore" version before this one and, in doing so, learned that Lorrie Kim's "Snape" came out first. By the first few pages of Dumbledore, I was hooked.
By the first few pages of Snape, I've fought falling asleep twice, was extremely bored, skipped over sections, and was so thankful the chapter was done. Please, for the love of Hermione, let this book get interesting and pick up a little.
Page 52: For a book titled "Snape" we talk an awfully lot about everyone else but Snape.
Page 56: Hold up. Opening the chamber, you have to know how the Heir would feel? Ginny, does when she's possessed? Ron does after the lock Horcrux possesses him? What exactly are they feeling? "This is one of Rowling's most important themes: that empathy is the basis of powerful magic." How was Ginny or Ron feeling empathetic when they opened it? Ginny was basically Tom Riddle and Ron can mimic Parseltongue.
Page 60: Chapter two is done. Still don't get what the writer is trying to accomplish here. Not sure if I'm gonna bother finishing this book honestly.
Page 63: The book spends more time giving back story, as if someone who didn't read the books decided to read this, instead of talking about an exploration of Snape
Page 73: Oh give me a fucking break. You're saying that because a book that came out in the 90s had Professor Snape wearing lady's clothes, causing the whole class to laugh and a kid overcoming his fear is now an act of transphobia?! Get a fucking grip! I'm done with this book
People are giving this book 4 or 5 stars, and I'm questioning if we read the same book.
I read Irvin Khaytman's Dumbledore before this book. I loved how Irvin had that book set up and I had expected this one to be very similar. Irvin referenced this book (Snape) a few times, and it made me very excited to read it. Looks like Irvin set the bar high and Kim couldn't reach it.
Just in the first chapter, I almost fell asleep twice out of boredom. The second chapter couldn't end sooner. Then comes the third chapter.
Everyone knows the scene of Neville's boggart, Snape, being transformed into wearing Neville's grandmother's clothes. Apparently this was transphobic.
"Lupin instigates mockery of Snape using an image with sexist, cissexist, and ageist implications that the students might not have come up with on their own." "The enormous hilarity, "all goes well" and the boggart gives the assembled class the opportunity to mock the image of Snape dressed in lady's clothes." Kim then processed to say that this helps Neville gain confidence, "but it comes at a price. Lupin has legitimized transphobia, a form of hatred."
This whole scene is Lupin helping his students overcome their fears by making light of them. Growing up, if you had a fear of public speaking, you were always told to "pretend everyone is in their underwear." This is literally no different. This book came out in 1999 and was targeted for kids. Get a grip. This was never Rowling's intentions and to assume or even reach for this is just ludicrous.
Progress notes:
Page 16: I'm bored
Page 29: Twice now, as I've tried reading this book, I've had to fight sleep.
Page 38: I read Irvin Khaytman's "Dumbledore" version before this one and, in doing so, learned that Lorrie Kim's "Snape" came out first. By the first few pages of Dumbledore, I was hooked.
By the first few pages of Snape, I've fought falling asleep twice, was extremely bored, skipped over sections, and was so thankful the chapter was done. Please, for the love of Hermione, let this book get interesting and pick up a little.
Page 52: For a book titled "Snape" we talk an awfully lot about everyone else but Snape.
Page 56: Hold up. Opening the chamber, you have to know how the Heir would feel? Ginny, does when she's possessed? Ron does after the lock Horcrux possesses him? What exactly are they feeling? "This is one of Rowling's most important themes: that empathy is the basis of powerful magic." How was Ginny or Ron feeling empathetic when they opened it? Ginny was basically Tom Riddle and Ron can mimic Parseltongue.
Page 60: Chapter two is done. Still don't get what the writer is trying to accomplish here. Not sure if I'm gonna bother finishing this book honestly.
Page 63: The book spends more time giving back story, as if someone who didn't read the books decided to read this, instead of talking about an exploration of Snape
Page 73: Oh give me a fucking break. You're saying that because a book that came out in the 90s had Professor Snape wearing lady's clothes, causing the whole class to laugh and a kid overcoming his fear is now an act of transphobia?! Get a fucking grip! I'm done with this book
October 13, 2023
I don't think I'll be able to write a good review of this book...
*Cries in a mess of confused emotions*
It put me through such a massive nostalgic roller coaster from the start, forcing me to portion it up to a very slow read (compared to my own measures, not compared to other peoples speed). I'd usually binge a book this long in a day or two, but this one took me about a month to read, being crippled by various (to me) hard to describe emotional reactions of love and compassion. Alas. Crying.
Painfully well written, totally ripping out the beating core of such a long come of age series in a genial, structured flow of reflective dedication without an intent to stain the reader with distortion. Simply can't be described by any other word than impressive.
It sure left my face sore.
PS.
Since reading some of the earlier reviews of people feeling the need to highlight their personal connection to any of the Hogwarts houses, either unintentionally or intentionally, taintig new readers expectations or opinions, it felt necessary to add that I do not have such an intent writing this. I'd like to think that letting people form their own reflections on their new and old views of their own opinions during the creative process of reading is important.
I'm of the opinion that it kind of seemed clear that this purely gifted authurs intention with the book was to absolve people of the need of titles, absolve segregation and unite people.
DS.
Thank you for the read.
*Cries in a mess of confused emotions*
It put me through such a massive nostalgic roller coaster from the start, forcing me to portion it up to a very slow read (compared to my own measures, not compared to other peoples speed). I'd usually binge a book this long in a day or two, but this one took me about a month to read, being crippled by various (to me) hard to describe emotional reactions of love and compassion. Alas. Crying.
Painfully well written, totally ripping out the beating core of such a long come of age series in a genial, structured flow of reflective dedication without an intent to stain the reader with distortion. Simply can't be described by any other word than impressive.
It sure left my face sore.
PS.
Since reading some of the earlier reviews of people feeling the need to highlight their personal connection to any of the Hogwarts houses, either unintentionally or intentionally, taintig new readers expectations or opinions, it felt necessary to add that I do not have such an intent writing this. I'd like to think that letting people form their own reflections on their new and old views of their own opinions during the creative process of reading is important.
I'm of the opinion that it kind of seemed clear that this purely gifted authurs intention with the book was to absolve people of the need of titles, absolve segregation and unite people.
DS.
Thank you for the read.
July 18, 2016
The mystery that is Severus Snape has been the cause for controversy and toxic fighting in fandom for years. If you are a Snape fan, this book is for you. If you are anti-Snape.. this book is still for you.
Snape: A Definitive Reading goes far beyond the motivations of Severus Snape: it explores themes in the Harry Potter series like trauma, genius, bullying, and how old prejudices can damage childhoods and schools. The author understands Snape's perspective, and how perspective and trauma inform so much violence and bigotry in the series. It's a challenge for teachers and parents to create safer spaces and teach de-escalation in dangerous environments.
Was Snape a hero? Did he create irreversible damage? Was he a bully? Was he a martyr? This book helps us to understand the Potions Master, regardless of condemnation or forgiveness. It's a lesson in empathy from the most isolated teacher.
Snape: A Definitive Reading goes far beyond the motivations of Severus Snape: it explores themes in the Harry Potter series like trauma, genius, bullying, and how old prejudices can damage childhoods and schools. The author understands Snape's perspective, and how perspective and trauma inform so much violence and bigotry in the series. It's a challenge for teachers and parents to create safer spaces and teach de-escalation in dangerous environments.
Was Snape a hero? Did he create irreversible damage? Was he a bully? Was he a martyr? This book helps us to understand the Potions Master, regardless of condemnation or forgiveness. It's a lesson in empathy from the most isolated teacher.
August 14, 2025
[1/5⭐️] głowa dalej mi nie przestaje po tym parować, w skrócie - okropne. gdybym miał to krótko podsumować, to jedno wielkie streszczanie tomów harry’ego pottera z jedną wielką nadinterpretacją pseudoanalizy severusa. w dodatku momentami wyczuwałem, że autorka jest pro snape, czego bardzo się obawiałem. nie było to jakoś bardzo wyczuwalne, ale jednak.
[współpraca barterowa @znak_literanova]
[współpraca barterowa @znak_literanova]
September 20, 2023
This was so smart I felt myself getting more intelligent as I read it.
November 13, 2022
The audiobook narrator is absolutely amazing. This is an extremely well written analysis of a very complex character. I loved it.
October 28, 2023
It was super slow and was difficult to capture my attention. However, I pushed through and read it in its entirety. One must remember that this is one person's interpretation of one major character. It was easy to agree with points made and conclusions drawn. However, it was just as easy to wholeheartedly disagree on opinions expressed.
Clearly, the author didn't take into account when these books were written. The author expresses their distaste at Lupin being written in a manner that they felt was anti-LGBTQ. As someone who doesn't search out for made-up injustices and grew up during the time these books were written, I know that is not what Lupin was teaching. As a society, those jokes were acceptable because no one craved to be offended like they are today. More importantly, that was the style of teaching that used to work. Find a way to connect with a student so they succeed. Nothing else mattered. We live in a society where everyone desires to be offended so they can express a "voice" and politicize something that isn't an issue. In whole, it sounded like the author disliked the HP series and the author but liked it enough to try and cut her down and find individual fame in a newly morphed society.
Additionally, I'm sure many people will buy and read this book because they want to know more about the "Always." Sadly, that isn't broken down at all and offers no analysis, which tells me the author had very little understanding as she pulled quotes from interviews to try to piece an explanation together. If anything, this analysis makes a reader loathe Dumbledore more than ever gaining better understanding of Snape, who true fams already knew he was powered by love.
Clearly, the author didn't take into account when these books were written. The author expresses their distaste at Lupin being written in a manner that they felt was anti-LGBTQ. As someone who doesn't search out for made-up injustices and grew up during the time these books were written, I know that is not what Lupin was teaching. As a society, those jokes were acceptable because no one craved to be offended like they are today. More importantly, that was the style of teaching that used to work. Find a way to connect with a student so they succeed. Nothing else mattered. We live in a society where everyone desires to be offended so they can express a "voice" and politicize something that isn't an issue. In whole, it sounded like the author disliked the HP series and the author but liked it enough to try and cut her down and find individual fame in a newly morphed society.
Additionally, I'm sure many people will buy and read this book because they want to know more about the "Always." Sadly, that isn't broken down at all and offers no analysis, which tells me the author had very little understanding as she pulled quotes from interviews to try to piece an explanation together. If anything, this analysis makes a reader loathe Dumbledore more than ever gaining better understanding of Snape, who true fams already knew he was powered by love.
August 29, 2024
This book is worth a read just for the chapters on the HBP and DT!
The first half of the book was a drag, but had good insights into the character of Severus Snape in Harry's younger years. Some of these were obvious and some I would have never thought of.
Each chapter in the book looks at Snape's character through the books. This book I have to rate in two sections: Chapter 1-5 I found dull and the facts that Kim was talking about seemed really obvious. Chapters 1-5 I would give a solid three stars. BUT chapters 6-7 made this book definitely worth a read. J.K does such a wonderful job writing the complex, and beautiful character of Snape. Kim shows the beauty and complexion of this character in a way I would have never thought of. After reading this Snape is definitely a runner up for favorite Harry Potter character. The Weasley twins will forever be my favorite, but Snape is second for sure. Kim also makes connections to characters that I would have never thought of, like Snape and McGonaglle!
This book is mainly about Severous Snape, but Kim also explores briefly many of the other Characters in the HP series: Lily, McGonagall, Sirius, Draco, Harry, Dumbledore and many more.
Overall a four star, the last chapters made it worth a read!!!
The first half of the book was a drag, but had good insights into the character of Severus Snape in Harry's younger years. Some of these were obvious and some I would have never thought of.
Each chapter in the book looks at Snape's character through the books. This book I have to rate in two sections: Chapter 1-5 I found dull and the facts that Kim was talking about seemed really obvious. Chapters 1-5 I would give a solid three stars. BUT chapters 6-7 made this book definitely worth a read. J.K does such a wonderful job writing the complex, and beautiful character of Snape. Kim shows the beauty and complexion of this character in a way I would have never thought of. After reading this Snape is definitely a runner up for favorite Harry Potter character. The Weasley twins will forever be my favorite, but Snape is second for sure. Kim also makes connections to characters that I would have never thought of, like Snape and McGonaglle!
This book is mainly about Severous Snape, but Kim also explores briefly many of the other Characters in the HP series: Lily, McGonagall, Sirius, Draco, Harry, Dumbledore and many more.
Overall a four star, the last chapters made it worth a read!!!
May 12, 2020
This was by far the most enjoyable reading experience I’ve had in a long time and have annotated the ever loving fuck out of this book. If only I’d paid this much attention at university, ey? It was a wonderful read and just solidified Snape as one of the most interesting (and my favourite) characters in literature.
Some observations felt a bit of a s t r e t c h but thus is the nature of critical reading. And although clearly written with some pro-snape bias, it does not try to excuse his retched behaviour but does explain some of it.
It accepts the redemption of Snape (which I don’t know if I personally entirely agree with or care about) which is true to what seems to be Rowling’s authorial intent? Either way, the most fascinating and beautiful look at my boy Snape and everyone should read it.
Some observations felt a bit of a s t r e t c h but thus is the nature of critical reading. And although clearly written with some pro-snape bias, it does not try to excuse his retched behaviour but does explain some of it.
It accepts the redemption of Snape (which I don’t know if I personally entirely agree with or care about) which is true to what seems to be Rowling’s authorial intent? Either way, the most fascinating and beautiful look at my boy Snape and everyone should read it.
February 3, 2022
Honestly, so much groaning and eye rolling I gave myself a migraine. What an arrogant book. This is a highly romantic and far-fetched portrayal of fanfiction Snape rather than an accurate interpretation of flawed, human, canon Snape. There’s no room for Rowing’s flaws, either, such as they are, unless it is to categorise the memorable boggart-Snape scene as “ageist”, “transphobic” and harmful to the students. The series has some plot holes, period. Kim denies them all and goes so far as to fill some with creative wandlore and state her speculations as canon. I was so excited to find this, a whole book about one of the richest, most beautiful and most fascinating characters in fiction, bought it immediately and saved it as a treat for myself, but having finally read it I wish I’d gone for the Ben & Jerry’s instead.
June 18, 2023
Fascinating.
January 23, 2025
Hab’s abgebrochen. War schlechter als meine Bachelorarbeit.
September 14, 2025
Autorka ukazuje przed czytelnikiem skomplikowaną drogę Severusa Snape’a, poczynając od jego szkolnych doświadczeń w Hogwarcie. To jedna z postaci, którą darzę szczególną sympatią w tym uniwersum, dlatego na tę książkę czekałam z większym entuzjazmem niż na niedawno opublikowaną publikację poświęconą Dumbledore’owi.
Sama treść nie ogranicza się do ogólników, lecz wnika w szczegóły, analizuje zachowania, wypowiedzi i decyzje Snape’a. Chwilami sama interpretacja zdaje się płynnie przechodzić w nadinterpretację.
Nie wprowadza niepublikowanych wątków, lecz interpretuje to, co już znamy przechodząc przez wszystkie tomy serii. Jest to zarówno nostalgiczny powrót, jak i ponowne przytoczenie informacji nam dobrze znanych. To swojego rodzaju przewodnik i to dość szczegółowy - dla osób, które chcą przyjrzeć się dokładniej znanej nam wszystkim tajemniczej postaci, odkryć nowe teorie i na chwilę wrócić do tego magicznego świata.
Sama treść nie ogranicza się do ogólników, lecz wnika w szczegóły, analizuje zachowania, wypowiedzi i decyzje Snape’a. Chwilami sama interpretacja zdaje się płynnie przechodzić w nadinterpretację.
Nie wprowadza niepublikowanych wątków, lecz interpretuje to, co już znamy przechodząc przez wszystkie tomy serii. Jest to zarówno nostalgiczny powrót, jak i ponowne przytoczenie informacji nam dobrze znanych. To swojego rodzaju przewodnik i to dość szczegółowy - dla osób, które chcą przyjrzeć się dokładniej znanej nam wszystkim tajemniczej postaci, odkryć nowe teorie i na chwilę wrócić do tego magicznego świata.
September 2, 2024
*** ENTHÄLT SPOILER ***
Als großer Harry Potter Fan hatte ich mich sehr auf das Buch gefreut. Nachdem ich Irvin Khaytmans herausragende Analyse über Dumbledore gelesen hatte, wollte ich auch unbedingt Lorrie Kims Sicht über Snape lesen.
Leider konnte für mich „Snape” „Dumbledore” nicht das Wasser reichen.
Zur Übersicht: das Buch „Snape“ ist in neun Kapiteln geschrieben. Von „Snape und der Stein der Weisen“ bis „Snape und das verwunschene Kind“. Der siebte Harry Potter Teil ist zweigeteilt.
Das Buch ist nicht vom offiziellen Harry Potter Universum und vertritt daher ausschließlich die Interpretation von Lorrie Kim, die als Denkanstoß für die eigene Analyse dienen kann.
Leider ist die Analyse über Snape das gesamte Buch als Tatsachen verfasst und nicht als wäre es eine mögliche, sondern die einzig mögliche Interpretation. Zudem ist das Buch teilweise mehr eine Zusammenfassung als eine Analyse (vor allem die ersten Kapitel (Bände)) und die analytischen Teile konzentrieren sich dann doch sehr auf die Gefühlsebene und lassen die Geschehensebene (Was hat Snape möglicherweise hinter den Kulissen gemacht?) - worauf ich mich am meisten bei dem Buch gefreut hatte - außer Acht.
Die oben genannten Punkten hätten mich womöglich nicht so sehr gestört, wäre ich öfter Kims Meinung gewesen. Und obwohl mir ihre Analyse einige Denkanstöße gegeben hat, konnte ich mit den meisten Theorien (die leider immer als Tatsachen formuliert waren) nur wenig anfangen.
Wenn man sich so lange und ausführlich mit einem Charakter beschäftigt ist es nachvollziehbar, dass man ein großer Fan von ihm ist/wird. Allerdings hat Kim Snape mit einer dermaßen anhimmelnden Blick unter die Lupe genommen, dass es mir teils sehr unrealistisch vorkam. Es wird meiner Meinung nach viel überinterpretiert, aber das immer zu Gunsten von Snape. Zum Beispiel wird Snapes Bullying runtergespielt (vor allem das gegen Harry - er schein ihn nur trainieren zu wollen) und die Intensionen seiner Handlungen hoch gepriesen.
Obwohl das Buch „Snape” heißt, geht Kim auch viel auf andere Charaktere ein (was teilweise ganz spannend, zu großen Teilen aber auch langweilig, weil nicht relevant, ist). Vor allem von Lupin ist sie wohl kein großer Fan.
NEVILLES IRRWICHT
Ein Beispiel dazu ist Kims Interpretation der Szene aus „Harry Potter und der Gefangene aus Askaban“, in der sich Nevilles Irrwicht in Snape verwandelt. Lupin schlägt vor, ihm die Klamotten von Nevilles Oma anzuziehen, um ihn so zu bekämpfen. Kim bezeichnet das als transphobisch und macht Lupin sehr runter deswegen.
Meine Meinung dazu: Den extreme Hass gegen Lupin finde ich unangemessen, vor allem weil das Buch schon so alt ist. Trotzdem finde ich auch, dass es etwas zu weit geht, wenn sich ein Lehrer mit seinen Schülern über einen Kollegen lustig macht, vor allem bei der Vorgeschichte. Allerdings war es von Lupin sicher nicht geplant, dass dieser Versuch der Aufmunterung so sehr ausartet (ganz Hogwarts spricht davon und selbst Dumbledore macht sich an Weihnachten darüber lustig (?!?)) und sollte Neville sicher nur Mut und Freude zum Überwinden seiner Angst geben.
SNAPES ERBE AN HARRY & DRACO
Ein Gedankengang von Kim finde ich sehr interessant. Bekannt ist, der Zauberstab lernt mit dem Zauberer mit. Harry und Dracos Zauberstäbe wurden gleichzeitig vom gleichen Lehrer (Snape) unterrichtet, und zwar die gleichen Grundsätze (Verteidigung anstatt Angriff). Dadurch kommt Harry in „Harry Potter und die Heiligtümer des Todes“ so gut mit Dracos Zauberstab zurecht, nach dem er ihn ihm entwendet hat. Soweit stimme ich Kim zu.
Allerdings ist Kim auch der Meinung, dass Snape allein dafür verantwortlich sei, dass Harrys auszeichnender Zauberspruch Expelliarmus wird. Und ja, Snape hat seinen Schülern beim Duellierclub den Zauberspruch Expelliarmus vorgeführt und vielleicht hat er dabei sogar so weit in die Zukunft und an Harrys weitere „Karriere“ gedacht, aber das Ganze war (soweit bekannt) ein einmaliges Ereignis. Die Behauptung, dass sich Harry wegen Snapes Unterrichtsweise für diese Art des Kämpfens (Verteidigung statt Angriff) entscheidet und nicht wegen seiner Persönlichkeit, finde ich entwürdigend. Und das ganze wird einfach wieder so oft erwähnt, als wäre Snape für allen Erfolg, den Harry in seinem Leben hat, verantwortlich.
HAT SNAPE VON DEN HEILIGTÜMERN GEWUSST?
Mit Anfang des sechsten Kapitels hatte ich gehofft, dass Kim nun auch mal mehr die Hintergrundgeschichten der Handlungen von Snape in die Analyse einbezieht. Allerdings geht es weiterhin hauptsächlich darum, wie sich Snape in jeder Szene im Buch fühlt.
Sichtweisen darauf, warum Snape Dumbledore tötet mit dem Hintergrund des Elderstabs kommt überhaupt nicht vor.
Im siebten Teil wird das Thema dann doch behandelt. Durch Kims Analyse über die Elderstabweitergabe und Dumbledores Vermutungen/Hoffnungen zu diesem Thema habe ich auf jeden Fall ein anderes und erweitertes Bild bekommen.
Teilweise bin ich aber auch hier wieder nicht ganz mit Kims Formulierungen zufrieden. Snape hat anscheinend nichts von den Heiligtümern des Todes gewusst. Beim Elderstab kann ich da nicht unbedingt zustimmen. Vor allem hätte es meiner Meinung nach eine Analyse mit Pro/Conta Argumenten dazu geben sollen, ob Snape von ihnen wusst oder nicht. Kim teilt dem Leser ihre Meinung aber wieder nur durch einen festellenden Satz ohne andere Interpretationsmöglichkeiten mit. Nach dieser Aussage habe ich mich nochmal länger in das Thema eingelesen und es gibt definitiv unterschiedliche Perspektiven, wie die Frage beantwortet werden kann, die es zumindest verdient haben sollten, genannt zu werden.
SNAPES PATRONUS
Bei der Analyse von Snapes Patronus, der Hirschkuh, wurden dann mal mehrere Deutungsoptionen aufgezeigt. Aber auch da erschien mir leider die eine abwegiger als die andere: Ist Snape eigentlich eine Transfrau? Oder Snape als möglicher „Mate“ von James oder HARRY???
„THE PRINCE“
Positiv fand ich, wie gut Kim das Buch „The Prince“ von Marciavelli in ihre Analyse eingebunden hat. Es gibt viele Parallelen zwischen den Figuren von den beiden Büchern. JKR selbst hat auf das Buch „The Prince“ verwiesen. Rowling lässt ihre Figuren (v.a. Snape, aber auch Harry) nach den Verhaltensmustern eines „Prinzen“ handeln. Das ist in Kims Buch sehr genau und nachvollziehbar aufgezeigt.
Da Kim hauptsächlich keine genauen Quellen angegeben hat, habe ich in meiner Rezension ausschließlich von „ihrer“ Meinung gesprochen, auch wenn sie einige Interpretationen mit Sicherheit aus andren Essays etc. hat (die sind im Quellenverzeichnis am Ende gesammelt angegeben).
Auch wenn ich etwas enttäuscht von dem Buch bin und ich etwas anderes erwartet habe, bereue ich es nicht, es gelesen zu haben. Selbst Meinungen und Sichtweisen, die sehr von der eigenen abweichen, sind bereichernd.
Obwohl es vielleicht nur vier oder fünf Interpretationen von Kim waren, denen ich zustimmen konnte, habe ich mir trotzdem auch bei den anderen Analysen Gedanken gemacht, recherchiert und konnte noch ein Stück tiefer in diese faszinierende Welt eintauchen.
Schlussendlich kann ich also nur jedem empfehlen, dem Buch eine Chance zu geben - vielleicht sind Kims Interpretationen über Snape ja genau deine.
Als großer Harry Potter Fan hatte ich mich sehr auf das Buch gefreut. Nachdem ich Irvin Khaytmans herausragende Analyse über Dumbledore gelesen hatte, wollte ich auch unbedingt Lorrie Kims Sicht über Snape lesen.
Leider konnte für mich „Snape” „Dumbledore” nicht das Wasser reichen.
Zur Übersicht: das Buch „Snape“ ist in neun Kapiteln geschrieben. Von „Snape und der Stein der Weisen“ bis „Snape und das verwunschene Kind“. Der siebte Harry Potter Teil ist zweigeteilt.
Das Buch ist nicht vom offiziellen Harry Potter Universum und vertritt daher ausschließlich die Interpretation von Lorrie Kim, die als Denkanstoß für die eigene Analyse dienen kann.
Leider ist die Analyse über Snape das gesamte Buch als Tatsachen verfasst und nicht als wäre es eine mögliche, sondern die einzig mögliche Interpretation. Zudem ist das Buch teilweise mehr eine Zusammenfassung als eine Analyse (vor allem die ersten Kapitel (Bände)) und die analytischen Teile konzentrieren sich dann doch sehr auf die Gefühlsebene und lassen die Geschehensebene (Was hat Snape möglicherweise hinter den Kulissen gemacht?) - worauf ich mich am meisten bei dem Buch gefreut hatte - außer Acht.
Die oben genannten Punkten hätten mich womöglich nicht so sehr gestört, wäre ich öfter Kims Meinung gewesen. Und obwohl mir ihre Analyse einige Denkanstöße gegeben hat, konnte ich mit den meisten Theorien (die leider immer als Tatsachen formuliert waren) nur wenig anfangen.
Wenn man sich so lange und ausführlich mit einem Charakter beschäftigt ist es nachvollziehbar, dass man ein großer Fan von ihm ist/wird. Allerdings hat Kim Snape mit einer dermaßen anhimmelnden Blick unter die Lupe genommen, dass es mir teils sehr unrealistisch vorkam. Es wird meiner Meinung nach viel überinterpretiert, aber das immer zu Gunsten von Snape. Zum Beispiel wird Snapes Bullying runtergespielt (vor allem das gegen Harry - er schein ihn nur trainieren zu wollen) und die Intensionen seiner Handlungen hoch gepriesen.
Obwohl das Buch „Snape” heißt, geht Kim auch viel auf andere Charaktere ein (was teilweise ganz spannend, zu großen Teilen aber auch langweilig, weil nicht relevant, ist). Vor allem von Lupin ist sie wohl kein großer Fan.
NEVILLES IRRWICHT
Ein Beispiel dazu ist Kims Interpretation der Szene aus „Harry Potter und der Gefangene aus Askaban“, in der sich Nevilles Irrwicht in Snape verwandelt. Lupin schlägt vor, ihm die Klamotten von Nevilles Oma anzuziehen, um ihn so zu bekämpfen. Kim bezeichnet das als transphobisch und macht Lupin sehr runter deswegen.
Meine Meinung dazu: Den extreme Hass gegen Lupin finde ich unangemessen, vor allem weil das Buch schon so alt ist. Trotzdem finde ich auch, dass es etwas zu weit geht, wenn sich ein Lehrer mit seinen Schülern über einen Kollegen lustig macht, vor allem bei der Vorgeschichte. Allerdings war es von Lupin sicher nicht geplant, dass dieser Versuch der Aufmunterung so sehr ausartet (ganz Hogwarts spricht davon und selbst Dumbledore macht sich an Weihnachten darüber lustig (?!?)) und sollte Neville sicher nur Mut und Freude zum Überwinden seiner Angst geben.
SNAPES ERBE AN HARRY & DRACO
Ein Gedankengang von Kim finde ich sehr interessant. Bekannt ist, der Zauberstab lernt mit dem Zauberer mit. Harry und Dracos Zauberstäbe wurden gleichzeitig vom gleichen Lehrer (Snape) unterrichtet, und zwar die gleichen Grundsätze (Verteidigung anstatt Angriff). Dadurch kommt Harry in „Harry Potter und die Heiligtümer des Todes“ so gut mit Dracos Zauberstab zurecht, nach dem er ihn ihm entwendet hat. Soweit stimme ich Kim zu.
Allerdings ist Kim auch der Meinung, dass Snape allein dafür verantwortlich sei, dass Harrys auszeichnender Zauberspruch Expelliarmus wird. Und ja, Snape hat seinen Schülern beim Duellierclub den Zauberspruch Expelliarmus vorgeführt und vielleicht hat er dabei sogar so weit in die Zukunft und an Harrys weitere „Karriere“ gedacht, aber das Ganze war (soweit bekannt) ein einmaliges Ereignis. Die Behauptung, dass sich Harry wegen Snapes Unterrichtsweise für diese Art des Kämpfens (Verteidigung statt Angriff) entscheidet und nicht wegen seiner Persönlichkeit, finde ich entwürdigend. Und das ganze wird einfach wieder so oft erwähnt, als wäre Snape für allen Erfolg, den Harry in seinem Leben hat, verantwortlich.
HAT SNAPE VON DEN HEILIGTÜMERN GEWUSST?
Mit Anfang des sechsten Kapitels hatte ich gehofft, dass Kim nun auch mal mehr die Hintergrundgeschichten der Handlungen von Snape in die Analyse einbezieht. Allerdings geht es weiterhin hauptsächlich darum, wie sich Snape in jeder Szene im Buch fühlt.
Sichtweisen darauf, warum Snape Dumbledore tötet mit dem Hintergrund des Elderstabs kommt überhaupt nicht vor.
Im siebten Teil wird das Thema dann doch behandelt. Durch Kims Analyse über die Elderstabweitergabe und Dumbledores Vermutungen/Hoffnungen zu diesem Thema habe ich auf jeden Fall ein anderes und erweitertes Bild bekommen.
Teilweise bin ich aber auch hier wieder nicht ganz mit Kims Formulierungen zufrieden. Snape hat anscheinend nichts von den Heiligtümern des Todes gewusst. Beim Elderstab kann ich da nicht unbedingt zustimmen. Vor allem hätte es meiner Meinung nach eine Analyse mit Pro/Conta Argumenten dazu geben sollen, ob Snape von ihnen wusst oder nicht. Kim teilt dem Leser ihre Meinung aber wieder nur durch einen festellenden Satz ohne andere Interpretationsmöglichkeiten mit. Nach dieser Aussage habe ich mich nochmal länger in das Thema eingelesen und es gibt definitiv unterschiedliche Perspektiven, wie die Frage beantwortet werden kann, die es zumindest verdient haben sollten, genannt zu werden.
SNAPES PATRONUS
Bei der Analyse von Snapes Patronus, der Hirschkuh, wurden dann mal mehrere Deutungsoptionen aufgezeigt. Aber auch da erschien mir leider die eine abwegiger als die andere: Ist Snape eigentlich eine Transfrau? Oder Snape als möglicher „Mate“ von James oder HARRY???
„THE PRINCE“
Positiv fand ich, wie gut Kim das Buch „The Prince“ von Marciavelli in ihre Analyse eingebunden hat. Es gibt viele Parallelen zwischen den Figuren von den beiden Büchern. JKR selbst hat auf das Buch „The Prince“ verwiesen. Rowling lässt ihre Figuren (v.a. Snape, aber auch Harry) nach den Verhaltensmustern eines „Prinzen“ handeln. Das ist in Kims Buch sehr genau und nachvollziehbar aufgezeigt.
Da Kim hauptsächlich keine genauen Quellen angegeben hat, habe ich in meiner Rezension ausschließlich von „ihrer“ Meinung gesprochen, auch wenn sie einige Interpretationen mit Sicherheit aus andren Essays etc. hat (die sind im Quellenverzeichnis am Ende gesammelt angegeben).
Auch wenn ich etwas enttäuscht von dem Buch bin und ich etwas anderes erwartet habe, bereue ich es nicht, es gelesen zu haben. Selbst Meinungen und Sichtweisen, die sehr von der eigenen abweichen, sind bereichernd.
Obwohl es vielleicht nur vier oder fünf Interpretationen von Kim waren, denen ich zustimmen konnte, habe ich mir trotzdem auch bei den anderen Analysen Gedanken gemacht, recherchiert und konnte noch ein Stück tiefer in diese faszinierende Welt eintauchen.
Schlussendlich kann ich also nur jedem empfehlen, dem Buch eine Chance zu geben - vielleicht sind Kims Interpretationen über Snape ja genau deine.
April 2, 2018
Severus Snape is my favorite character in the whole of literature. He's a character of complex morality who gives his entire life as an adult to atone for mistakes made in his youth and he does so with a sour, unsavory personality and a flair for the dramatic and sarcastic arts. He's honestly the love of my life. So I was truly excited to read this. Lorrie Kim brings up many points I had never thought about, but early on she makes some mistakes that hurt her credibility a bit (leaps of logic and factual errors: James Potter WAS NOT a Seeker in the books!!! he was a Chaser!!!!) however, by the end I was enthralled. I loved her examination of Snape as a protector of the (surprisingly vulnerable) Slytherin students and his desperate attempts at teaching all students non-violence and non aggressive defense. I didn't always agree with her interpretations, but Lorrie Kim did a great job getting her thoughts out there. This was the first book since college that I took a pencil to and I thank her for that. If you're wondering were I'll be for the foreseeable future, just check the fanfic sites, I'm feeling inspired.
February 20, 2018
Snape Shaped Holes
Severus Snape is by far the most complex character JK Rowling has created. His role of antihero well disguised in the earlier Harry Potter books, delights the champions of underdogs. Once Snape’s true intentions are known the reader thinks back and recalls evidence of Snape as the protector. For example when he places himself in front of Harry, Ron & Hermione shielding them with his body from a rampaging Professor Lupin in the heat of the werwolf. There are many such examples through all 7 books.
Kudos to Lorrie Kim for taking a complex character from a YA book and writing such an entertaining critique.
Slightly off topic as we are discussing books and not movies but I wanted to take this space to say that Alan Rickman was the perfect choice to portray Snape. Mr Rickman gave to Snape all the characteristics Rowlings ascribed to him while adding a few of his own.
I would recommend this book highly to any Harry Potter or Snape fans.
Severus Snape is by far the most complex character JK Rowling has created. His role of antihero well disguised in the earlier Harry Potter books, delights the champions of underdogs. Once Snape’s true intentions are known the reader thinks back and recalls evidence of Snape as the protector. For example when he places himself in front of Harry, Ron & Hermione shielding them with his body from a rampaging Professor Lupin in the heat of the werwolf. There are many such examples through all 7 books.
Kudos to Lorrie Kim for taking a complex character from a YA book and writing such an entertaining critique.
Slightly off topic as we are discussing books and not movies but I wanted to take this space to say that Alan Rickman was the perfect choice to portray Snape. Mr Rickman gave to Snape all the characteristics Rowlings ascribed to him while adding a few of his own.
I would recommend this book highly to any Harry Potter or Snape fans.
June 12, 2021
A very eloquent and thoughtful character study on one of the most complex and divisive characters in literature. I’ve always had a soft spot to Snape and this book just further supports and explains why he’s my favorite character and so deeply misunderstood, and why he shouldn’t be characterized as one-dimensional.
He’s so gray; he’s done both awful things and selfless and heroic things. And I think that’s what make him not only the most human character but also the most brave, and sympathetic character because there’s just so much to empathize with and that’s the whole point.
Definitely recommend for anyone who views Snape as one of their favorite characters and to those who don’t but are open minded and empathic.
He’s so gray; he’s done both awful things and selfless and heroic things. And I think that’s what make him not only the most human character but also the most brave, and sympathetic character because there’s just so much to empathize with and that’s the whole point.
Definitely recommend for anyone who views Snape as one of their favorite characters and to those who don’t but are open minded and empathic.
May 24, 2018
A sentence for sentence word for word analysis of every time Severus Snape was present or even mentioned in the Harry Potter books.
This is exactly the kind of analysis I crave from my English Lit. books. 👌🏻 #talknerdytome
Of course, I didn't agree with every conclusion or interpretation the author had, but that's okay! It sparked a discussion, and that's what books like this are for, anyways. Discussions.
If this book isn't used as a textbook in literature electives somewhere I WILL throw tables. Also, is there such a thing as Harry Potter electives at some colleges? Please say yes.
This is exactly the kind of analysis I crave from my English Lit. books. 👌🏻 #talknerdytome
Of course, I didn't agree with every conclusion or interpretation the author had, but that's okay! It sparked a discussion, and that's what books like this are for, anyways. Discussions.
If this book isn't used as a textbook in literature electives somewhere I WILL throw tables. Also, is there such a thing as Harry Potter electives at some colleges? Please say yes.
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